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Cover Story: A Win-Win Situation
After hanging up her high-top court shoes following college, it took Mandy Olley less than a year to realize she "needed to get back in the game." For the 2002 graduate of Old Dominion University, where she was a two-year team captain and helped the Lady Monarchs to four straight NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament appearances, coaching is the way to stay connected with the game she loves. Olley is enjoying a new period in her college hoops career as an athletics intern with the Susquehanna women's basketball program. Olley's position is funded through a gift from the John and Mary Kay Strangfeld Foundation. Designated by Vice Chair of Susquehanna's Board of Trustees John R. Strangfeld '75, and his wife, Mary Kay, the program has created seven full-time paid positions in which athletic interns serve as assistant coaches with the men's and women's basketball, football, softball, and track and field programs, as well as an assistant director of intramurals/recreation and club sports.
As the majority of Susquehanna's students directly participate in athletics through intramurals, recreational activities, and club sports as well as intercollegiate competition, "the John and Mary Kay Strangfeld Foundation's generous and strategic gift has created an internship program benefiting the overall student experience," says L. Jay Lemons, Susquehanna University president. The program, which began in the 2006-2007 academic year, was conceived to "better leverage Susquehanna's investment in its coaching staff and athletic facilities," says Strangfeld. In fact, Strangfeld regards the intern program to be "as much about admissions and recruiting as it is about athletics," in that "Susquehanna's offering of quality academics and quality athletics is an important part of the university's value proposition" to prospective students. Jim Reed, head women's basketball and women's golf coach, reports that recruiting is the athletic internship program's most significant area of impact. Having Olley on staff has "allowed us to increase the number of recruiting contacts, and have more continuity in working with prospective student-athletes over the course of the year," Reed says.
Steve Briggs, head football coach, tells a similar story for the football program, which has two athletic interns on staff. One is Split Ends Coach Joey Stockton, who was a standout receiver at Western Kentucky University and a three-time Division I-AA All-American. Briggs regards Stockton as "maybe the best recruiter on staff, and not just among interns." "In the past year, Susquehanna's admissions and athletics departments have been more intentional in coordinating activities directed toward prospective students," says Chris Markle '84, director of admissions. And now, the results are in. "Our collaboration has contributed to a record number of applications for admission and we just welcomed 600 first-year students - the largest freshman class in university history," Markle says. At the same time, the program has made the cut with Susquehanna's current student-athletes. "Our students have told us that the athletic interns have positively impacted the quality of the programs," says Pam Samuelson, director of athletics. "Having the athletic interns on board has allowed our coaching staffs to be more available and accessible," she adds. Samuelson also regards the fact that many of the interns were themselves very successful student-athletes in the recent past as an "additional point of connection for our students." Along with their experience, the interns bring to Susquehanna a passion for athletics. It's a motivation Olley describes as "for the love of the game," and it's an emotion the assistant coaches wear on their sleeve. Strangfeld, who had the opportunity to meet the rookie class of interns last academic year, agrees. "The enthusiasm of these assistant coaches is energizing," he says. Olley sees the same passion for the sport in the student-athletes she coaches, a fire she fans by drawing from her experiences on the court. "I have been blessed with great coaches through my years of playing, and now I'm able to pass on some of what I've learned," Olley says. Seeing players excel is what motivates Stockton. One opportunity has been working with Blake Patrill '09, who had only played quarterback before Susquehanna. Now, he's a receiver. "I am testing myself; working with him as a receiver, and seeing him moving up the depth chart, has been exciting," Stockton says. While the athletic interns are making real
contributions at Susquehanna, they are also on the receiving end of
valuable experiences. "Providing an entrée into collegiate coaching,
the interns have an opportunity to both learn and really make a difference,"
says Strangfeld of the program. Olley and Stockton report numerous takeaways
from working with their respective coaching staffs. As part of a community
in which all are teachers and learners, it comes as no surprise that
the interns would themselves be coached and mentored by those veterans
with whom they work. Returning Athletic Interns
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